Reserves: Manchester City 3 Latics 0

The result means Latics are bottom of the Northern Premier Reserve League after two games, but they're joined by fellow locals Liverpool and Bolton who are also yet to get off the mark.

Andreas Johansson

Wigan fielded an inexperienced line up, as new coach Mark Seagraves continued to look to breed new blood into the club. However with only the likes of Pollitt and Johansson displaying any real experience, the side found it difficult to impose themselves on the game.

The first chance of the match fell to City's on-loan winger DaMarcus Beasley, the young American shooting wide after some good onrushing from Mike Pollitt 12 minutes in.

And Beasley came close again just over 10 minutes later, beating the offside trap and forcing Pollitt into another good save.

However minutes later Latics nearly took the lead. City defender Gary Breen under-hit a pass across the box, leaving keeper Joe Hart to quickly clear the ball from James Dunn, denying Wigan a gifted goal.

Then with Wigan applying some pressure, Andreas Johansson came close to getting the breakthrough. The Swede latched onto a pass inside the area only for keeper Hart to deflect the ball over the bar after a brave lunge 37 minutes in.

The second half soon arrived and City came out from the dressing room with extra vigour, eager to impress the on-looking Stuart Pearce.

Andy Webster: Scored Own Goal

And only 11 minutes after the break, City opened the scoring. Midfielder Ashley Williams crossed a ball into the area which fell to Paul Marshall after a suspicious block from a Latics defender. The midfielder then steadied himself and slotted home from 8 yards out to give his team the lead.

City grew in stature and confidence and it wasn't long before they doubled their lead. An innocuous throw-in on the right made its way to Marshall who appeared to push Latics' defender Andrew Webster before turning sharply and firing into the far corner with 17 minutes to go.

The game-killing third goal came just 3 minutes later. A Manchester City corner put pressure on the Latics defence and with Marshall looking for his hat trick, the striker forced Andrew Webster into a demoralising own goal, capping off the night's anguish and putting City 3-0 up.

Latics had a late opportunity for a consolation goal but as the game progressed they failed to capitalise on some guilt edge chances, despite having a large percentage of the possession.

Their chance came minutes after the third City goal, when Andreas Johansson saw his shot parried to Latics substitute Jonathan Smith, who after firing his shot past Hart saw the ball rebound off the underside of the bar and into the hands of the City keeper.

The Reserves will look to capture their first points of the season in their next game away at Newcastle on Monday 9th October at 7 pm.

Teams:

Man City Reserves: Hart, Breen, McGivern, Williamson, D'Laryea, Johnson, Williams, Marshall, Grimes, Clayton, Beasley.

Subs: McDermott, Matthewson, Kay, Daly.

Wigan Athletic Reserves: Pollitt, Wright, King, Montrose, Pearson, Webster, Hampson, Moore, Dunn, Johansson, Owens.

Subs: Ashworth, Saunders, Smith, Holt, McAughtie

Goals: Marshall 56, 73, Webster o.g. 76

Attendance: 384